Burning Tower, Nyngan Cemetery

Nyngan burning tower

Image Courtesy of: NSW Environment and Heritage

The burner is of brick construction with a square footprint of 2100mm, it stands 2150mm high and has a stepped roof of nine brick courses. On the north side an opening has been created by leaving out six horizontally arranged bricks. The opening allows access to a metal grated area where offerings can be placed for incineration. The grate is raised off the ground to allow air to flow underneath. Vents in the remaining three sides have been formed by leaving out two half and one whole brick. The burner tapers to a single brick size hole (flue) at the top.

The Chinese section of the Nyngan General Cemetery is of State significance as one of the largest collections of Chinese grave stones in association with a burner in the State. Comprised of nine grave stones (formerly ten), the Nyngan graves are located near a brick burner used to burn food and money offerings to the souls of the dead. The burner itself is of State significance. While not being a lavish example, it is of an unusual design, also found in California and is indicative of adaptations made by Chinese to life outside their country. The burner and markers are evidence of Chinese funerary practices as carried out in New South Wales and provide research potential regarding the number of burials exhumed and returned to China.

The site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 13 March 2009

Source: NSW Environment and Heritage

Nyngan Cemetery burning tower

Image Courtesy of: NSW Environment and Heritage